Machine for perforating sheets of paper for automatic musical instruments



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\ I R. T.-SM'ITH.' Machine for Perforating Sheets of Paper for Automatic Musical Instruments. 7 No. 223,866. Patented .Ian. 27, 1880.

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R. T. SMITH. Machine for Perforating Sheets of Paper forAutomatic.

Musical Instruments. No. 223,866. Pa nted Jan. 27,-1880.

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No. 223,866. Patented Jan. 27, 1880.

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WITNE55E5- |NVENTDR UNITED STATES ROSWELL T. SMITH, OF. NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

MACHINE FOR PERFURATING SHEETS OF PAPER FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPEGTFIGATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 223,866, dated January 27,1880.

I Application filed J une 5, 1879.

nation and arrangement of mechanical elements, operating automatically, by which the open spaces in the sheet, indicating the musical notation, may be formed after any desired arrangement and to represent any possible combination of musical sounds.

It is well known that in the automatic organs now before the public the various melodiesto be performed are represented upon long sheets of paper by perforations or openings cut therein, the several combinations of sounds depending upon therelative arrangement andindividual length of said perforations. As the possible arrangements are infinite in number, it follows that there is no limit to the number of musical compositions which can be rendered by any single instrument, ex cept the cost of supplying the music-paper. This single item is entitled to serious consideration, in view of the fact that at present these music-sheets are cut by handa fact which greatly increases their cost. Moreover, as their production is a work requiring a high degree of accuracy and care, it is impossible to avoid slight errors, which may affect the harmony.

By my invention these obj ectionsare wholly overcome, since my machine will not only cut anygiven arrangement of note-perforations with mathematicalaccuracy, but will also perform the work at a very low cost.

Referring to the drawings forming part of this I application, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine in which my invention is embodied. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof,

taken from the right-hand side of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. 4is a section'taken upon the line no a in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view,

partly in section and partly in elevation, taken upon the line y y in Fig. 3, the front rolls being removed from the machine. Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section taken upon the line 2 2, Fig. 4, part of the mechanism being broken away. V

The same letters indicate like parts in all the figures. Q

A A indicate the frame of the machine, in

which the operative parts are supported. Near the upper and rearward part of this frame is placed a roll, B, which carries the blank sheet of paper upon which the machine is to operate. 'This roll is journaled in the frame A A, and is arranged to turn easily and deliver the paper as fast as it is required.

At the front of the machine, andnear its top, are placed two rolls, 0 C, so arranged that their tangent-line shall be in about the same plane with the lower side of roll B. The upper of these two rolls-viz., G--isjournaled in pivoted bearings c c, by means of which the two rolls may be separated from contact with each other, for the purpose of introducing or removing the paper sheet, the, pivoted bearin g-plates 0 a being connected to the frame A A by spiral springs d (I, hooked into an eye upon the plates. These springs exert a sufficient pressure upon the lower roll to insure the uniform and accurate feed of the paper sheet D, which passes between them. Motion is imparted to these feeding-rolls by means of a pawl-and-ratchet movement connected with the main shaft of the machine, (see Figs. 2 and 5,) which will be described hereinafter.

Between the two rolls 0 G and the roll B is placed a guide-bed, E, (see Fig. 4,) having flanged sides 6 c, the width of the bed E inside the iianges being just equal to the width the roll B to the feedrolls, moves between the flanges e e, by which all lateral displacement is prevented, thereby causing the several series of perforations to be out exactly parallel to each other and to the edges of the sheet.

The cutting-punches are placed behind and near the feed-rolls. They consist each of a straight rectangular block of metal, f, (see Fig. 4,) arrangedin a series which is precisely parallel to the axis of the feed'rolls O O. The

distance between the several punches is equal to the space left between the rows of perforations in the music-sheet, and theirnumber is equal to the number of rows to be cut; and this may, of course, be varied, if desirable.

Iwill here remark, also, that in the drawings accompanying this appiication I have shown two (2) punches only with their connected mechanism, since to illustrate a greater number would be merely a red uplication of these parts and unnecessary to the disclosure of the invention.

The punches f cut upon their upward movement, passing through a continuation, E, of the guide-bed E, and then into a die-plate, F,

, placed just above the bed E, the paper sheet,

as it is fed to the punches, passing between the said bed-plate and die-plate.

Now, it is evident that if the entire series of punches should act at each stroke of the prime motor (the paper sheet being fed be tween the successive strokes a distance nearly equal to the thickness of the punches) the result would be merely a sheet having a series of strips cut therefrom at regular intervals, whereas it is necessary that some of the cuts shall be very short, while others are of considerable length, their relative arrangement being also very irregular. It follows, therefore, that out of the whole series of punches certain selected members thereof must be called into operation at any given stroke, the remaining punches being at the same time inactive, leaving that portion of the paper sheet which lies above them unperforated. This selecting out of the entire series of the particular punches required to act at a 1' articular point and the rejection by the mechanism of the remaining punches must be automatic and mathematically accurate.

I will now describe the means by which I accomplish this result.

The punches are arranged, as already stated, in a single row or series, and placed behind and parallel with the feed-rolls G 0. Each punch is capable of separate and independent operation, being in no way connected with the adjacent punches. hen not in. operation they rest beneath thedie-plate F, their upper or cutting extremities being a trifle below the upper surface of the bed-plate E, in which position they are sustainedby a tooth, 0, formed on each punch, which rests on the guide-plate T. Directly beneath the punches is placed a series of dogs, G, mounted upon a carrier-frame, M, to which vertical reciprocation is imparted at each revolution of the main shaft 0 by means of eccentrics N N and pitm en NN.

The carrier-frame is guided in its movement by grooves VV, cut in the frame A A. Each dog-is mounted upon a iivot-bearingfl, and is provided with an arm, H, extending forward and having at its extremity a pin, m. Each dog is also provided with a spring, P, attached to the carrier-frame M, and pressing upon the rear face of the dog and holding it, when not otherwise acted upon, in a vertical position.

When in this position the dogs G are-directly beneath and in engagement with the punchesf.

If the machine is now operated through onehalf a revolution of the main shaft, the carrier arms H may drop into said' grooves when the arms are depressed sufficiently to bring the dogs G under and in engagement with the pnnchesf.

Over the roll K (which is rotated by means hereinafter described) is led a sheet, L, of paper or other suitable material. said sheet passing from a lower delivering-roll, K, placed in standards I 1 in front of the machine, and being taken up, after leaving the roll K, by a receiving-roll, K. This sheet, which is called the stencil, is provided with a series of perforations exactly corresponding in length and in their relative positions with the cuttings which are to be formed in the paper sheet D.

It has also a rack out upon or near its edges,

to en gage with cogs or teeth 1 upon the roll K. When the sheet is placed thereon with the teeth engaging said rack the several rows or series of perforations will coincide in position with the grooves 70 7c of the roll.

Now, as the stencil-sheet is fed forward by the rotation of the roll K, the moment that any one or more of the perforations falls beneath one or more of the pins m it will permit such pin or pins to drop through and descend into the grooves in the roll, thereby depressing the arms H and bringing the corresponding dogs under and in engagement with the punches above said dogs. The remaining QIOO"OS in the roll being covered by the un perforated portions of the stencil-sheet, the pins upon the ren'iaining arms rest thereon,

and are thus prevented from dropping,where-- by the dogs actuated by. said arms are held out of engagement with their punches in position shown at G, Fig. 4. At this moment, the paper sheet and stencil being both stationary, the carrier M rises,'and those punches .which happen to be in engagement with the dogs in the manner described are driven up through the paper, each punch forming a single cut therein. scends, drawing all those punches which have been called into operation down with 'it by means'of a yoke, n, attached to the carrierframe, and passing-over a series of teeth, 0, formed upon the backs of the punches. In

the same manner the whole, or any number less than the whole, series of punches can be made to cut at the same instant, the selection of those punches which are required to act at any given point being indicated by the stencilperforations, and effected by the arms H and the dogs G.

The carrier-frame M immediately de-,

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1 After each stroke of the punches the paper sheetD and stencil L must be fed one step forward in preparation for the successive stroke.

Before the stencil moves, however, all of those to drop into the grooves in the stencil-roll, and

pins m which happen to register with its perforations must be lifted out of the grooves in the roll and out of contact with the stencil, to prevent the pins from catching in the ends'of the cut spaces as the feed movement takes place, andthereby tearing the stencil. For this reason the arms H must be lifted far enough to raise all the pins above the stencil until the feedis accomplished, when the whole series must be released, to allow those pins whichregister with perforations-after the feed thereby cause their dogs to engage with those punches which are required to act upon the next stroke. This is efiected by means of a yoke, 19, mounted upon a yoke-carrier;P. This yoke passes from the carrier around in front of the whole series of dogs G, the yoke-carrier being connected to the frame M by a lever, P, pivoted to the lower part of said frame. This lever is actuated by a cam. a, on the shaft 0, which throws the yoke-carrier backward, causing the yoke 19 to draw all the dogs Gr toward the rear and raise the entire series of arms H far enough to lift the pins at slightly above the stencil. The cam a acts between every stroke of the punches, the arrangement being such that the yoke 10 is operated and the arms 11 raised an instant before the feed of the stencil begins. The moment this is completed the cam leaves the lever P, which is restored to its former position by a spring, p causing the yoke to release the dogs, when as many of the pins m as may happen, after the feed movement, to register with perforations in the stencil will fall into the grooves in the roll, and cause the corresponding dogs to engage with those punches which are required to out upon the next stroke. The remaining pins of the series willrest upon the unperforated portions of the stencil, and thereby prevent their dogs from. engaging with those punches which are to remain inactive.

It should be noted that the same pin may inany times successively be lifted out of and fall into the same perforation in the stencil, in which case the punch correspondingwill cut at every stroke, forming (as each feed movement is slightly less than the thickness of the punch) a continuous cutor slot in the paper sheet D. The length of such cut will depend upon the number of successive strokes made by the same punch, and this will be deter mined by the length of the perforation in the stencil.

The feed of the paper sheet Dis either exactly equal togor bears a certainfixed relation to the movement of the stencil-sheet L. The paper sheet is fed by the rolls 0 0, their mo tion being derived from the main shaft by 'a pawl-and-ratchet movement connected with the lower roll. This consists of a pitman, a,

attached to a crank on the shaft 0, which operatesa pawl, I), engaging with a ratchet wheel on the lower-roll shaft. The pawl is carried by an arm, (1 oscillating on the same shaft, and said arm is provided with an eye, 0, through which the pitmau passes, the end portion of the latter being threaded and provided with nuts f j' (one on each side of the eye,) by which the movement of the arm, and consequently the throw of the pawl, can be regulated at pleasure. I can by these devices adjust the rate of feed with the greatest precision.

A similar combination of devices is used in connection with the roll K to feed the stencil-sheet, the great advantage thereof being that the entire feed movement'is accomplished during the' time that the prime motor is performing a short are of its circle of revolution. Thus the paper sheet and stencil are stationary during nearly the whole of each revolution of the main shaft, allowing the other parts of the mechanism ample time to perform their functions without interfering with the feed. It is evident, also, as already stated, that by these means the feed of both the stencil and the paper sheet can be so adjusted as to be exactly equal or to bear a certain fixed proportion to each other.

To secure the accurate performance of all these functions it is of the greatest importance that the stencilsheet shall pass over the stencil-roll K at a fixed rate of speed, from which there shall be no deviation, excepting as caused by adjustment of the feed-regulating devices. In order to secure this fixed and accurate feed-rate, teeth or cogs Z are formed or placed on each end of the stencil-roll to engage with the rack Z cut in or near the edges of the stencil-sheet.

To insure the uniform engagement of the cogs with the rack, and also for the purpose of securing the greatest precision in the action of the dogs G, it is necessary to apply some degree of tension to the stencil sheet, by which it shall be drawn smoothly against and snugly up to the stencil-roll. This degree of tension, moreover, being once fixed, must 'suffer no deviation, and I have devised the following simple and effective means for applying such tension:

The stencil is led or drawn from a deliveryroll, K, journaled in a pivoted frame, S, to permit the roll to oscillate. In the end of said roll is placed a short threaded bearing having a head which rests against the outer surface of the journalsupporting plates S. By turnthan the stencil is fed.

ment of the cogs with the rack cut in the stencil, it is desirable that the receiving-roll K should exert a certain degree of draft upon the sheet, to prevent the cogs from tearing out of the rack and to hold the sheet down upon the top of the roll. The roll K therefore receives motion from a pulley upon the main shaft, geared by a belt with a pulley, L upon its own shaft. This pulley is placed loosely upon the roll-shaft, and clamped against a collar, 1, bolted thereto by a nut, L By tightening this nut the pulley may be made to'eXert a certain degree of draft upon the stencil-sheet, but beyond that point it will slip on its shaft without increasing the tension of the sheet. This result is necessary, because the pulley L" travels somewhat faster By this fi'iction-l'irake the draft of the roll K can be regulated in proportion to the resistance of the roll K and the tension produced by the roll K. It should be so adjusted that the roll K and the roll K shall both contribute to overcome the resistance of the roll K.

One great advantage of this form of friction-brake is, that the tension produced by it is constant in degree, since the pulley is at each instant slipping upon its shaft, and at each instant also exerting the exact amount of tension on the stencil necessary to overcome the degree of friction produced by the clamp-nut, this degree being invariably the same.

I have already stated that the paper sheet is fed by a pawl-and-ratchet movement connected with the main shaft. Exactly the same combination of elements is employed to impart motion to the roll K, which feeds the stencil-sheet. It is not necessary, therefore, to give a detailed description of the latter.

Both stencil and paper sheet are fed by de vices connected with the main shaft, but not acting at the same moment, as the feed movement of the stencil precedes that of the paper sheet by an instant of time.

As the sheet D is drawn from the roll B it is apt to have a tremulous vibration, which has a tendency to produce tine wrinkles in its surface. This is readily overcome by laying a light weigh t on that part of the sheet which lies between the flanges c e, and fastening it to the frai'neA, so that the paper may slide beneath it. A simple bar of wood is sufficient for this purpose, and such a device is illustrated in Fig. 4.

Instead of the springs P, I may use spiral springs 8, connected to the under side of arms II and to the frame M, as seen in Fig. 4; also,

instead of the dogs G being mounted upon a pivot bearin g or support in the carrier-frame M, they may be caused to slidein grooves cut in said frame, in which case the arms H would engage with the stencil-roll upon the side of the roll neXt to the framelVI, instead of upon the top of the roll. Moreover, by merely altering the angle between the arms H and dogs G their operation may be partially reversed, the dogs engaging with the punches when the arms H rest upon the stencil-sheet, and being disconnected with the punches when the pins in drop into the grooves in the roll. Finally, the arms H, instead of being lifted by a yoke, 19, may be raised either by a cam-shaft placed beneath the arms or by a stationary plate placed in front of said arms in such a position that as the carrier frame M descends the arms shall belifted by striking the plate, while the arms shall, as they rise, merely tilt the plate.

In operating my machine I ordinarily pass from eight (8) to twelve (12) sheets between the teed-rolls G 0 simultaneously, as the machine works better upon a number of sheets than upon a single thickness. When several sheets are fed the number of rolls B is come spondingly increased, each roll delivering a single sheet. For this purpose the frame A A may be extended toward the rear as far as may be necessary in order to give room for the additional rolls.

The stencil-sheet may also be passed between two rolls similar to' feed-rolls O O instead of being wound off the roll K, and in like manner may be drawn oh the stencil-roll K by two similar, rolls instead of being wound on the roll K.

Having thus fully described my invemion, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a machine for cutting music-paper for automatic organs, the combination of a series of independent punches or cutters and a corresponding series of rocking dogs mounted upon a reciprocating support and having reciprocating motion, and adapted to select, at each reciprocation, those punches required to act and,

to engage with and drive said selected punches through the paper, the proper selection being indicated by a stencil or pattern sheet, as set forth.

2. The combination, in said machine, of a series of punches or cutters havingindependent operation, a corresponding series of rocking dogs mounted upon a reciprocating support and adapted at each reciprocation to automatically select, engage with, and operate those punches which are required to act, a separate iiattern-sheet or stencil to indicate the proper selection, and adjustable feeding devices to regulate the motion of said stencil, as set forth. 1

3. The combination, in said machine, of a series of punches or cut-ters, a corresponding series of dogs mounted upon a reciprocating support and having forwardly projecting arms provided with pins adapted to engage with and operate the said punches, a grooved roll for governing the action of the dogs, and a pattern or stencil to indicate and determine the time of their relative action, as setforth.

4. The combination, with feedrolls O 0,

provided with suitable mechanism for imparting motion thereto, of the series of independent punches f, a corresponding and distinctly separate series of dogs, G, having arms H, a reciprocating carrier, M, and stencil L, as set 5 forth.

5. The combination, in ,a paper-perforatin g machine, of a series of independent punches,

and yoke 13, of the cam-lever P", stencil L,

and grooved roll K, as set forth,

2o 8. The combination, in a paper-perforating machine, with the feed-rolls G O, of the pawland-ratchet feed-movement, consisting of a pitman connected with. a crank on the main shaft, an arm, (2, oscillating upon the shaft of 2 5 roll 0, and provided with an eye, to receive the pitman, a pawl, I), mounted on said arm,

7 and nuts f f adjustable upon the threaded portion of said pitman, as and for the purpose set forth, 7

o 9. In a paper-perforating machine, the combination, with the stencil-roll, of a dischargeroll from which said stencil is taken, a take up roll upon which it is wound, an adjustable friction device by whichthe tension of the stencil may be regulated, a series of teeth upon the stencil-roll entering apertures in the stencil to prevent slipping, and the series of arms H and dogs Ggwhich select and operate the punches, as set forth.

o 10. In a paper-perforating machine, the combination, with the main shaft, of feed-rolls C U, a pitman, a, connected to a pawl-andratchet feed on the shaft of roll G, a stencilroll, K, pitman a and a pawl-and-ratchet 4 5 feed on the shaft of said stencil-roll, each pitman being connected to the pawl-carrier by adjustable stops, whereby the throw of the pawl may be regulated and the feed of the rolls 0 C and the stencil-roll K may be adjusted separately, as and for the purpose substantially set forth.

11. The combination, in a paper-perforatin g machine, of a series of independent punches, a series of pivoted fingers or dogs independently mounted upon avertically-reciprocating frame and adapted to'engage automatically with and to drive said punches, a series of arms formed on andprojectin g from said dogs over a grooved roll, a corresponding series of pins projecting from said arms downward, and a stencil-sheet passing over the grooved roll and adapted to support the pins upon its imperforate surface, and thereby hold the dogs out of engagement with their punches, or to permit said pins to drop through the perforations into the grooves of the roll,

bringing the dogs into engagement with the punches, in the manner set forth.

12. I11 a paper perforating machine, the combination of a groor'ed roll to which a fixed rate of speed is applied, a stencil or pattern sheet supported on said roll, a series of arms which rest on said stencil, and, as it is fed forward, drop through its perforations into the grooves in the roll, a corresponding series of dogs connected with said arms and mounted upon a vertically-reciprocating frame beneath the punches, a yoke to lift the arms above the stencil, and thereby disengage all the dogs from the punches during the feed of the sheet, and a cam and lever to retract said yoke, as set forth.

13. The combination, with the stencil-roll K, its ratchet-feed, and devices for regulat ing the same, of the take-up roll K,'pulley L 8 5 friction-clamp L, and belt-gearing K as set forth.

14.. A paper-perforating machine consisting of feed-rolls O U, punches f, yoke n 1%, dogs G, arms H, having pins on, yoke 11, cam-lever P, carrier M, grooved stencil-roll K", rolls K K, and stencil-sheet L, all combined in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have-signed my name to this specification in the presence of two 5 subscribing witnesses. I

BOSWELL T. SMITH.

Witnesses L. L. TILDEN, OHAs. B. TILDEN. 

